U.S. women to play 2 games in Japan

Updated: February 9, 2012, 9:59 PM ET
Associated Press

CHICAGO -- The U.S. Women's soccer team will play in Japan against the host country and against Brazil in April.

The games will be April 1 against the World Cup champion Japanese at Sendai, and April 3 against the Brazilians in Chiba in the new Women's Kirin Challenge Cup.

Japan will face Brazil on April 5 in Kobe.

U.S. coach Pia Sundhage, who led the Americans to second place in last year's World Cup, says "playing two of the world's best teams almost back to back will be a tremendous challenge for our entire roster."

Before that trip, the Americans will play in the Algarve Cup in Portugal, an event the United States has won eight times.


Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press